Separator plate and arrangement for an electrochemical system, and electrochemical system

Abstract

Electrochemical systems, separator plates and methods for production thereof, the separator plate comprising: an active region and at least one first through-opening for supplying a reaction medium to flow channels, and one second through-opening for conducting the reaction medium away from flow channels. At least one through-opening enclosed by a roller-embossed sealing bead. Roller embossing a first layer in a first transportation direction and roller embossing a second layer in a second transportation direction, and arranging the two metal layers opposite one another relative to the respective transportation directions. Two roller-embossed sealing beads are arranged one above the other.

1 . A method of producing a separator plate for an electrochemical system, the method comprising:
 roller embossing a first metal layer in a first transportation direction and roller embossing a second metal layer in a second transportation direction, and arranging the two layers opposite to one another relative to the respective transportation directions,   rolling embossing flow channels of an active region,   rolling embossing sealing beads,   the separator plate comprising:   the first metal layer and the second metal layer arranged adjacent to the first metal layer vertically in relation to the layer plane,   the active region having in each case at least one set of the roller-embossed flow channels for a reaction medium along each outer face of the separator plate, and   at least one first through-opening for supplying a reaction medium to one of the sets of flow channels, and one second through-opening for conducting the reaction medium away from the set of flow channels,   wherein at least the first through-opening in each of the metal layers or the second through-opening in each of the metal layers is enclosed by one of the roller-embossed sealing beads,   wherein the two roller-embossed sealing beads are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction in relation to a plane of contact between the first and the second metal layer and have different orientations.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller embossed beads of the first and the second layer are formed as full beads having a bead top, bead bottoms adjacent to the bead top, and bead flanks extending between the bead top and one of the bead bottoms in each case. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the beat tops or the bead bottoms of the roller-embossed beads of the first and the second layer either face one another or face away from one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the full beads has, at least in some portions in cross section transversely to the extension direction of the full bead, a bead top that is straight or curved and a recess in the direction of the plane of the bead bottoms between the adjacent bead flanks. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein an elastomer is arranged at least in some portions in the recess in the direction of the extension of the roller-embossed bead and/or transversely to the direction of the extension of the roller-embossed bead. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, along the extension of the roller-embossed beads, at least in the regions in which the roller-embossed beads are either facing one another or facing away from one another by their bead tops, bead flanks of the roller-embossed bead of the first layer and bead flanks of the roller-embossed bead of the second layer that are directly adjacent to one another have different flank angles at least in some portions. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein, along the extension of the roller-embossed beads, at least in the regions in which the roller-embossed beads are facing one another or in which the roller-embossed beads are facing away from one another, the beads facing one another or facing away from one another together have, at least in some portions, a substantially point-symmetrical cross section transversely to the extension direction of the first bead and the second bead. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, the transportation direction for at least one out of the first layer and the second layer extends, at least in some portions, substantially perpendicularly to or substantially in parallel with the longitudinal extension of at least one of the sets of flow channels for a reaction medium of the respective layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one set of flow channels for a reaction medium of the first layer has first grooves and adjacent first ridges, wherein the first grooves form the base of the flow channels for a reaction medium and the first ridges form the walls thereof, and at least one set of flow channels for a reaction medium of the second layer has second grooves and adjacent second ridges, wherein the second grooves form the base of flow channels for a reaction medium and the second ridges form the walls thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the flow channels of at least one set of flow channels for a reaction medium parallel to the layer plane of the first layer and/or the second layer extend in a straight, wave-shaped, zigzag or meandering manner. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein, in a cross section through flow channels for a reaction medium, first ridges and second ridges are arranged in pairs opposite one another at least at some points or in some portions, and first grooves of the first layer, which are adjacent to the first ridges, and second grooves of the second layer, which are adjacent to the second ridges, are both arranged with the backs of their groove bases adjacent to one another at least at some points or in some portions. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing an electrochemical system comprising a first separator plate and a second separator plate and a membrane electrode assembly arranged between the two separator plates, the method comprising:
 roller embossing a first metal layer in a first transportation direction and roller embossing a second metal layer in a second transportation direction, and arranging the two layers opposite to one another relative to the respective transportation directions,   roller embossing flow channels of an active region,   rolling embossing sealing beads,   the separator plates each comprising:   the first metal layer and a second metal layer arranged adjacent to the first metal layer vertically in relation to the layer plane,   an active region having at least one set of the roller-embossed flow channels for a reaction medium along each outer face of the separator plate, and   at least one first through-opening for supplying a reaction medium to one of the sets of flow channels, and one second through-opening for conducting the reaction medium away from the set of flow channels,   wherein, in each of the two separator plates, at least the first through-opening in each of the metal layers or the second through-opening in each of the metal layers is enclosed by one of the roller-embossed sealing beads,   wherein the roller-embossed sealing beads in the mutually facing layers of the first and the second separator plate are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction in relation to the extension plane of the membrane electrode assembly,   wherein   the roller-embossed sealing beads in the mutually facing layers of the first and the second separator plate have different orientations.   
     
     
         13 . A method of producing an arrangement for an electrochemical system comprising a first separator plate and a second separator plate each having a metal layer, and a membrane electrode assembly arranged between the two separator plates, wherein at least one of said separator plates has exactly one metal layer, the method comprising:
 roller embossing a first metal layer in a first transportation direction and roller embossing a second metal layer in a second transportation direction, and arranging the two layers opposite to one another relative to the respective transportation directions,   rolling embossing flow channels of an active region,   rolling embossing sealing beads,   the separator plates each comprising:   the active region having in each case at least one set of the roller-embossed flow channels for a reaction medium along each outer face of the separator plate, and   at least one first through-opening for supplying a reaction medium to one of the sets of flow channels, and one second through-opening for conducting the reaction medium away from the set of flow channels,   wherein, in each of the two separator plates, at least the first through-opening is enclosed by one of the roller-embossed sealing beads,   wherein the roller-embossed sealing beads in the first and the second separator plate are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction in relation to the extension plane of the membrane electrode assembly,   wherein the roller-embossed sealing beads in the first and the second separator plate have different orientations,   wherein the first separator plate is roller-embossed in a first transportation direction and the second separator plate is roller-embossed in a second transportation direction, and said two separator plates are arranged the opposite way to one another in terms of their transportation directions.   
     
     
         14 . A fuel cell or electrolyzer comprising a stack of separator plates produced according to the method of  claim 1 , wherein the separator plates are arranged adjacent to one another, or comprising a stack of arrangements arranged adjacent to one another.